Virtual Gala launches across Canada to raise funds for COVID-19 relief
Community Foundation to host a night to connect, unite and nourish our community on May 2
April 24, 2020 – Stratford, ON – On May 2, Stratford, St. Marys and Perth County will join more than 20 communities from coast to Canadian coast to connect online for the national Stay at Home Gala. The event will welcome prominent Canadians to its online stage to raise funds for communities affected by COVID-19.
Physical distance at its finest, guests will dress up and welcome Canadian personalities into their living rooms. The Stay at Home Gala will host all the familiar elements of a gala: game-changing speakers like André Picard, Canada’s top health and public policy observer and commentator and music and entertainment from Canadian artists such as Juno Award and Polaris Prize-nominated singer Tanika Charles.
In addition to the national broadcast — which is available for all Canadians — a growing list of cities will present their own local galas to bookend the national event. Cities from Ottawa to Victoria will welcome regional talent to their stages.
The Stratford Perth Community Foundation event will open for the Stay at Home Gala event at 7 p.m. Emcee, Brittlestar will welcome local community leaders, entertainers and prominent speakers to join together to celebrate the strength of our local community. Announcements will follow as talent is confirmed. To enhance the experience, attendees are encouraged to support local businesses by ordering takeout or delivery for their evening’s meal.
“We are thrilled to be a part of a national network of communities that are coming together virtually to provide a message of hope and resilience during challenging times,” says Heidi Culliton, executive director for the Stratford Perth Community Foundation. “This event is open to our entire community and guests have the option of making a donation to support our Charitable Response Fund.”
What: National Stay at Home Gala
When: Saturday, May 2 starting at 7 p.m. E.S.T. followed by the national portion at 8 p.m.
Where: Online — register at https://stayathomegala.com/ or locally https://trellis.org/stay-at-home-gala-stratford-stmarys-perth
Proceeds from the evening will go to the Charitable Response Fund that will provide support to our region’s chartable sector over the coming weeks and months as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
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Media Contacts: Preview Changes (opens in a new tab)
Heidi Culliton, Executive Director, Stratford Perth Community Foundation
heidi@spccf.ca or 519-801-0556
About the Stratford Perth Community Foundation
The Stratford Perth Community Foundation is a registered charitable foundation serving Stratford, St. Marys and Perth County. Unique because donations are made to endowed funds which are pooled and invested. Investment income is used to make grants to local charities year after year to meet the needs throughout our region. As partner in philanthropy for our region we help donors fulfill their charitable goals today with legacies that will last forever. Established in 2004, the Community Foundation’s endowed assets have grown to $5M and community grants to date exceed $1M. For more information about the Stratford Perth Community Foundation please visit www.spccf.ca.
About the Stay at Home Gala
The Stay at Home Gala is volunteer led organization based in Kelowna, BC. On March 27th, 2020 they held their first Stay at Home Gala raising over $20,000 in a matter of days for their local community foundation’s COVID-19 response fund. The Stay at Home Gala’s goal is to raise $1,000,000 for Canadians affected by COVID-19 through virtual galas across the country on May 2, 2020. Click here for a listing of all communities participating.
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